Finding out Humor in Middle East Culture
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Global Journal of HUMAN-SOCIAL SCIENCE: C Sociology & Culture Volume 14 Issue 2 Version 1.0 Year 2014 Type: Double Blind Peer Reviewed International Research Journal Publisher: Global Journals Inc. (USA) Online ISSN: 2249-460x & Print ISSN: 0975-587X Comparing Nashrudin Hoja, Juha and Mullah Nashrudin: Finding Out Humor in Middle East Culture By Maman Lesmana University of Indonesia, Indonesia Abstract- The name of Nashrudin Hoja seems to be recognized by people in the world with their humorous anecdotes. Some research have studied Nashrudin Hoja with historical approach. This article use approach of humor and semiotic of fiction. From the analysis, is concluded that the figure of Nashrudin Hoja and Juha are real while character of Mullah Nashrudin is fictional. All stories of Nashrudin Hoja, Juha and Mullah Nashrudin contain humorous elements with different shapes and types. The stories of Nashrudin Hoja and Juha are anecdotes styled because the characters are real even though the stories do not necessarily exist, while the stories of Mullah Nashrudin are more fictional. The text of Mullah Nashruddin is more complex and difficult to understand, because the text aims to convey certain teachings to the readers through humor. Meanwhile, the texts of Nashrudin Hoja and Juha are merely more entertainment than for the educative purposes. Keywords: Nashrudin Hoja, humor, Arabic culture, Turki, Persia. GJHSS-C Classification : FOR Code : 200299 ComparingNashrudinHojaJuhaandMullahNashrudinFindingOutHumorinMiddleEastCulture Strictly as per the compliance and regulations of: © 2014. Maman Lesmana. This is a research/review paper, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution- Noncommercial 3.0 Unported License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/), permitting all non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Comparing Nashrudin Hoja, Juha and Mullah Nashrudin: Finding Out Humor in Middle East Culture Maman Lesmana Abstract- The name of Nashrudin Hoja seems to be recognized many people. Nashrudin stories show the great by people in the world with their humorous anecdotes. Some influence of Sufism, so some people think that he is a research have studied Nashrudin Hoja with historical Sufi. The stories are humorous stories about the people 2014 approach. This article use approach of humor and semiotic of and their lifestyles in the past. Usually, they contain fiction. From the analysis, is concluded that the figure of hidden meaning of moralities and can be interpreted in Year Nashrudin Hoja and Juha are real while character of Mullah various levels of human life and are short observation Nashrudin is fictional. All stories of Nashrudin Hoja, Juha and Mullah Nashrudin contain humorous elements with different about people from different aspects of life, such as the 35 shapes and types. The stories of Nashrudin Hoja and Juha are life of ordinary people, beggars, kings, scholars, anecdotes styled because the characters are real even though politicians, scholars, merchants, soldiers and others. the stories do not necessarily exist, while the stories of Mullah Some stories contain for instance told about him, his Nashrudin are more fictional. The text of Mullah Nashruddin is wife and a faithful donkey. more complex and difficult to understand, because the text Meanwhile, Burak Sansal (2010) mentioned that aims to convey certain teachings to the readers through Nashruddin Hoja was born in 1208, in a village near the humor. Meanwhile, the texts of Nashrudin Hoja and Juha are town Hortu Sivrihisar (near Afyon), in the western part of merely more entertainment than for the educative purposes. Keywords: Nashrudin Hoja, humor, Arabic culture, Turki, Central Anatolia. In 1237 he moved to the City Aksehir to Persia. study with renowned scholars at that time, namely Sayid Mahmud Hayrani and Sayid Haci Ibrahim. He served as I. Introduction a Muslim judge (qadi) until 1284 which was the date of his death. Hoja Nasruddin was a philosopher, smart and ome researcher have studied Nashrudin Hoja with wise man with a great sense of humor. The story spread ) historical approach. They mentioned that C almost everywhere in the world, among the tribes in ( SNashrudin Hoja was an adaptation of the Turkey itself, as well as in Persia, Arabia, Africa and Volume XIV Issue II Version I character "Juha" known in literature, folklore and culture along the Silk Road to China, India, and Europe. But, of of Arabs in the 7th century. When the Ottoman Turks course, for about 700 years not all of these stories using controlled the Arab region in the 16 th century, they Hoja attribute. Most of the stories are collection of adapted the characters Juha into Turkish, and rename humorous stories not only from Turkey, but also from the character to be Nasruddin Hoja. After that, in other stories in the World. Hoja in Turkish means - medieval times, when the contact between Turkish and "teacher", also known in the world by various names, for Persian cultures existed, the Persians also adapted the example, the Turks called Nasreddin Hoca, the character of Arabs and Turks and named it as "Mullah Kazakhstan named Koja Nasreddin, the Greeks called Nashruddin". This article use approach of humor and Nasreddin Hoja, People of Azerbaijan and Iran called semiotic of fiction for analyzing texts of humor from him Molla or Mulla Nasreddin, the Arabs called Juha these characters, because it is more interesting and and Tajikistan people called him Mushfiqi. suitable than the previous one. Juha,-who refers to the original name which was adapted by the Turks into Nashrudin Hoja-, according to II. Who is Nashrudin Hoja? Jayyusi (2010) is a traditional figure who has countless Sawhney (2004) states that every year in Turkey funny anecdotes. His characters are so diverse, ranging Global Journal of Human Social Science was held a festival called "Nasruddin Hoja International from a wise people to a foolish one. His humors are also Festival". The festival is held on a large scale on 5-10 varied, from painful to joyful humors. Helmke (2007) July in a city where Nashrudin Hoja allegedly buried. said that Juha is an interesting folklore figure in North This festival provides an opportunity for writers and Africa and the Middle East. Some figures are artists to display their works on drama, film, music, characterized as a funny people and also a wise leader. animation and painting to preserve the memories of He could solve many problems that people were unable legendary Nashrudin Hoja. His grave is often visited by to deal with. Some cases, the story tells about the wisdom and other about the entertainment. However, Author: Faculty of Humanity, University of Indonesia. e-mail: [email protected] ©2014 Global Journals Inc. (US) Comparing Nashrudin Hoja, Juha and Mullah Nashrudin: Finding out Humor in Middle East Culture there are many knowledge or insight that can be drawn opposed those who did not describe something from the stories of Juha. correctly. Many events that occur in society are not In an article entitled asy - syakhshiyah portrayed correctly and surrender to realities and Haqiqiyah (2010), Juha mentioned that the real name of conditions. The stories of Juha are parts of his personal Juha was Abu al-Ghushni ibn Thabit al-Dujayni Fazaari ideals and purposes of his life. (Barakat 2007) However, (60-160 AH / 680-777 AD). Many people wonder in Juha asy-syakhshiyah al-Haqiqiyah (2010) it is clearly whether or not that the famous figure of Juha with full of mentioned that when the Ottoman Turks controlled the funny stories is a real person? In fact, Juha is a real Arab region in the 16th century AD, they adapted the funny character, although his name was not mentioned story Juha into Turkish and change it as Nasruddin in the history. In Arabic, the name of Juha has become a Hoja. Later, in medieval times, when the contact symbol in art and humor. Thousands of anecdotes or between the Turkish and Persian culture occured, the humorous stories for centuries came from his mouth. Persians also adapted the story from the Arab and People may forget his historical roots, but they can not Turkish and named it as Mullah Nasruddin. and will never forget him in the context of his humorous Then, who is the actual name of Mullah 2014 characters. Although there are a lot of humor in the Arab Nashrudin? The oldest story of Mullah Nashrudin Year stories and cultures, the Juha is still the most famous contained in the book "Saltukname", written in 1480, figure and still exist today in the Arab literature, folklore which mixed with other folklores and legends. The book 36 and culture. Therefore, it is not surprising that Juha mentions that Nashrudin was born in a village in Turkey, could live a hundred years. The story of Juha that is still named Sivrihisar, in 1208. Other sources mention that prominent and influential till today is not only because of Nashrudin was born in the village of Horto, near his creativity in writing and expression but rather Sivrihisar. Later, he moved to Aksehir in 1237 and died showing the genuine expression of the Arabs in general. in 1284. Mullah Nashrudin was a Sufi who left the In the past people used to divide the story of Juha into worldly life. The word Mullah in Arabic means "priest" or two major characters; Juha who was stupid and crazy "ulama". Therefore mullah is a legend in several and Juha who was are clever and smart. Now people countries in Central Asia, including Afghanistan, Iran, categorize it into various themes, according to its Turkey, Tajikistan and other countries that each claimed content. There are political, social and cultural themes. that Mullah Nashrudin was born there. Even Uzbekistan However, the influence of Juha is not confined to people claim that Mullah Nashrudin was born in political and social criticism, but also reflects other Bukhara, Uzbekistan.